The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has been working to reduce the harmful impacts of shipping on the environment, setting progressively stricter limits on the sulphur content of fuel oils used by vessels. Failure to comply with these new rules can lead to substantial fines.
Recently, the IMO has adopted a 2008 resolution that introduces a reduced global sulphur cap on marine fuels. The current global limit of 3.5% mass/mass (m/m) shall decrease to 0.5% m/m from 1 January 2020.
While the new regulation has been welcomed by all, there are challenges in ensuring its full compliance and enforcement. This page is dedicated to provide Members with the resources necessary to overcome these challenges.
Air pollution from maritime transport is a global environmental concern. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been working to reduce the harmful impacts of shipping on the environment, but as highlighted in the attached Legal Update, challenges for compliance and enforcement in regards to Sulphur emissions still remain.
Recent amendment to South Korea's regulations concerning the imposition and collection of oil spill response costs
The Maritime and Port authority of Singapore (MPA) has released a port circular regarding the control of smoke emissions by vessels in Port.
The Club has learnt that Paris MOU, Tokyo MOU, Indian Ocean MOU and Black Sea MOU port state control (PSC) regimes have agreed to focus on the prevention of air pollution by ships during their forthcoming concentrated inspection campaigns (CICs) - 1 September 2018 and 30 November 2018.
Preparing for the 2020 low sulphur limit
19/07/2018
The IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) set 1st of January 2020 as entry-into-force date of the 0.50% m/m global sulphur in marine fuel cap at its 70th session on 24th - 28th October 2016. In preparation for implementation of the limit, extensive work has been carried out by IMO and recently by its Intersessional Working Group that met during 9th -13th July 2018.
Foreign shipowners trading with Venezuela should exercise caution to be certain that any remittances made through the U.S.
From 1 September 2017, in Jiangsu and Zhenjiang provinces, the requirement of all ships at berth (1 hour after arrival and before departure are excluded) using low sulphur bunker (not exceeding 0.5%mm) is geographically expanded from the major ports to all ports within these two provinces.
Members' attention is drawn to the attached update on the 2019 tariffs for pollution fines in Turkish waters